The long and successful reign of Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and his Civic Democratic Party ended in November 1997 with the collapse of the coalition that had kept him in power. This collapse was the result of a worsening economy, several financial scandals, and political dissention within the coalition. After new elections were held in June 1998,... more...

The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Czech State has been thoroughly updated and greatly expanded. Featuring a chronology, introductory essay, appendix, bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries, this detailed, authoritative reference provides understandings of the Czechs as a people; the territory they inhabit;... more...

Sometimes a city can be like a bird. Just as the magpie is an inveterate collector, hoarding beautiful eclectic bits to line its nest, so Prague retains fragments from bygone regimes and centuries past to create a city of juxtaposition that is alternately exquisite and bizarre. Prague?s personality is expressed as much by its obvious beauty as by... more...